If we are brutally honest, what we have seen has been pretty dull cricket. Yes, we have seen some upsets but they have been largely dictated by the qualities of the surfaces that have been played on. That aspect has been a huge negative and one that is normally not associated with cricket in South Africa. How two pitches that are a mere 40 kilometres apart can be so different in nature escapes me. When batting at the Wanderers, first and foremost on the striker’s mind is survival and that is far from ideal. Cricketers want to play one day cricket on true, consistent tracks so that natural skill levels can be expressed to the maximum. What they have had during this event has stifled flair and in some cases elevated ability. So far, with the semi final stage looming, we have only had one close encounter and that was on the last day of the minor round and that is not a recipe for success.

The crowds have been predictably disappointing overall with capacity support afforded to only the home team. The West Indies have been a disaster and that well chronicled spat between their normal international regulars and the WICB has resulted in acute embarrassment. I can just imagine how some of the proud and patriotic Caribbean stars of yesteryear must be mortified by the current scenario. For the sake of quality, I feel the ICC should have ruled with an iron fist and rejected the second rank team that is wearing maroon in Gauteng. Their participation has done nothing but detract from the event.

Again, as viewers, we have been subjected to that tedious period of play between 20 and 40 overs where the only avenue of excitement and discussion is when the batting captain is going to employ the batting powerplay. No need to discuss that in any great detail as unimaginative use of that powerplay has again dominated proceedings. It makes absolutely no sense to continue as is until the last 6 or so overs unless there are still two frontline batsmen carving up the attack. Those death overs are generally always going to go for plenty so that strategy is inconsequential and will have little effect on the outcome. Why not get the opposition on the back foot and have them scrambling to cover bases when two batsmen are in complete control and on the charge? I would suggest the ideal time, in a perfectly structured innings, is to take that batting powerplay around the 35th over. The ball would have just been replaced, it is harder and will travel quicker off the bat, the batsmen are in and performing in a calculated manner rather than engaged in death slogging, and very importantly the opposition will not be expecting it.

So here is my final checklist. The cricket has been severely hampered by the playing conditions. The lack of crowd support has deflated atmosphere. The quality of one team has sabotaged consistent excellence. The strategic planning regarding batting powerplays has been ineffectual. Twenty middle overs of tedium per innings in matches that went the distance have tested the patience.

Let me throw one more aspect into the mix that is definitely a sign of the times. Do we have the time these days in our often frenetic lifestyles to watch 100 overs to conclude what is supposed to be an action packed one day encounter that regularly unfolds as a one sided affair?

Let’s hope the semis and the final fire up or the post mortems will continue.


Recent ColumnsMike Haysman